Writen by Karyna Barrera, UC Master Gardener Coordinator
Spring is here. It’s the busiest time of year for gardeners. Almost all warm-season vegetables, herbs and annual flowers are planted during this time.
You still have time to plant pansies, violas and primroses in the shade. You can also plant summer annuals such as cosmos, marigolds, sunflowers and petunias.
Most perennials can be planted in April. We always encourage planting native, water-wise plants to support pollinators and beneficial insects.
Once the nights are above 55 degrees, you can plant tomatoes, eggplants and peppers, squash and melons. You can continue to plant root crops such as beets, turnips, carrots, radishes and potatoes. Some cool-season crops that can still be planted are chard, leeks, green onions, lettuce, other salad greens and cilantro. Be sure to pick a sunny spot for your edible garden.
It is time to fertilize. Fertilize your trees and shrubs once this spring. Watch azaleas and camellias for yellowing between the veins in the leaves. If the leaves are yellowish, apply chelated iron to the plants. Deadhead spent flowers but do not remove the leaves from spring bulbs. The leaves restore the bulb, so wait to remove them until they turn yellow. Fertilize your bulbs after they finish blooming with bone meal.
Be sure to apply mulch to your flower and vegetable gardens to keep the soil cool, retain water, prevent weeds and enrich the soil.
Most importantly, have fun.
Source: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Visit ipm.ucanr.edu or cecolusa.ucanr.edu.